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Rules of Order and Procedure 

 The community council representing Red Hills Middle School in the Sevier School District has implemented the following rules of order:

Adopted by the Council:  9/26/2024

To promote ethical behavior and civil discourse each council member shall:

  • Attend council meetings on time and prepared
  • Make decisions with the needs of students as the main objective
  • Listen to and value diverse opinions
  • Be sure the opinions of those you represent are included in discussions
  • Expect accountability and be prepared to be accountable
  • Act with integrity

 Rules of Procedure:

Council members will receive training to understand the responsibilities of the council.  Council members receive training before preparing and taking action on School LAND Trust Plans and reports.

All meetings are open to the public and the public is welcome to attend.

The agenda of each upcoming meeting, with draft minutes of the prior meeting, will be made available to all council members at least one week in advance and will be posted on the school website.  The agenda will include the date, time, and location of the meeting, and any proposed action items.

Written minutes will be kept of all meetings, prepared in draft format for approval at the next scheduled meeting. Approved minutes will be retained for three years.

The council will prepare a timeline for the school year that includes due dates for all required reporting and other activities/tasks that the council agrees to assume or participate in.  The timeline will assist in preparation of agendas to be sure the council accomplishes their work in a timely manner.

The council shall establish a timeline for the election, including noticing the election at least ten days in advance of it taking place. 

  • A notice of elections and a request for interested parents, who would like to file as a candidate for RHMS community council, will be sent home the last week of August.
  • Elections will take place the third week of September.
  • Votes may be cast in the following way:
    • In person
    • By mail

The council consists of the principal, 1 school employee who is elected every other year, and 4 parent members, half of whom are elected in even years and half in odd years.  In the event there is a tie vote in an election, the principal shall flip a coin to determine the outcome. 

When a full council is not seated in the election or a seat is vacated, the parent members of the council shall appoint members to fill unfilled parent positions and school employee members shall appoint school employee members.

The council shall elect a chair from the parent members and a vice-chair from the parent or school employee members at the first meeting of the year after the council is seated each year.  A principal cannot hold office.

The chair conducts the meetings, makes assignments, and requests reports on assignments.  In the absence of the chair, the vice-chair shall conduct meetings.  The chair may delegate responsibilities to other council members.

The council must have a quorum to vote. A quorum is equal to a majority of council members.

Meetings shall be conducted and action taken according to very simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required in 53G-7-1203(10).  Council actions will be taken by motions and voting with votes and motions recorded in the minutes.

Simple Motions of Parliamentary Procedure

motion

Does it require a 2nd?

is it debatable?

can it be amended?

is a Vote Required

Adjourn

yes

no

no

majority

Amend a motion

yes

yes

yes

majority

Close nominations

yes

no

yes

2/3

Main motion

yes

yes

yes

majority

Point of Order

no

no

no

ruled on by chair

Previous Question

yes

no

no

2/3

Reconsider

yes

yes

no

majority

Withdrawal of Motion

no

no

no

majority

A motion (or an action to be taken by the council) is stated as a motion.  Someone else on the council “seconds” the motion indicating that at least one other person on the council feels the motion is worthy of discussion.  Then the council members may provide input and discussion as called upon by the chair.  When discussion seems complete the chair may call for a vote on the motion.  Or when a member of the council “calls the previous question” (a motion to end discussion of the first motion), a second is required.  Without discussion the chair calls for a vote that must pass by 2/3.  If the vote on the previous question fails, the council goes back to discussing the first motion.  If the motion to call the previous question passes, the chair directly calls for a vote on the first motion.  A vote to call the previous question is usually used to move business along.

  • A tie vote is a lost vote.
  • Most motions are main motions. A main motion may be amended.
  • A point of order is offered when there is some question if procedure had been followed correctly.
  • To stop debate or discussion on a motion and force the vote a member would say, “I move the previous
    ” This requires a second and a 2/3 vote.
  • Hasty action may be corrected by use of the motion to reconsider. This motion may be made only
    by one who voted on the prevailing side.
  • A person who made the motion may withdraw the same motion.